SOLUTION-FOCUSED BRIEF THERAPY EVALUATION LIST - 11/10/7

Sixty-four relevant studies: 2 meta-analyses; 6 randomised controlled trials showing benefit from solution-focused brief therapy with three showing benefit over existing treatments. Of 21 comparison studies, 16 favour sft. Effectiveness data are available from more than 2700 cases with a success rate exceeding 60%; requiring an average of 3 - 5 sessions of therapy time.

SFT approved by US Federal Government: www.samhsa.gov; State of Washington http://lib/adai.washington.edu; State of Oregon www.oregon.gov/DHS (Cindy Hansen, personal communication; cindyh@teleport.com)

EBTA homepage: www.ebta.nu
Briefftc: www.brief-therapy.org
Sft Webpage: www.sikt.nu; sft discussion list: SFT-L@listserv.icors.org
UK Association and discussion list: www.ukasfp.co.uk
Solution News: UKASFP newsletter: www.solution-news.co.uk
BRIEF: www.brieftherapy.org.uk

META-ANALYSES

Kim JS (2006) Examining the Effectiveness of Solution-focused Brief Therapy: A Meta-Analysis Using Random Effects Modeling. SFBTA conference, Denver (University of Michigan dissertation database). 22 studies; many factors examined. Small effects in favour of sft; best for personal behaviour change, effect size estimate .26 (sig. p<.05). Thus sft is equivalent to other therapies. Overall, avg 6.5 sessions required. On the basis of demonstrated effectiveness, competence in sft requires >20 hours of training? (jkim@ku.edu) (Research In Social Work Practice, 2008, in press)

Stams GJ, Dekovic M, Buist K, de Vries L (2006) Effectiviteit van oplossingsgerichte korte therapie: een meta-analyse (Efficacy of solution focused brief therapy: a meta-analysis). Gedragstherapie, 39(2): 81-95. (Dutch; abstract in English). 21 studies; many factors examined. Small to moderate effect: better than no treatment; as good as other treatments. Best results for personal behaviour change, adults, residential / group settings. Recent studies show strongest effects. Shorter than other therapies; respects client autonomy. (G.J.J.M.Stams@uva.nl)

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Corcoran J, Pillai V (2007) A review of the research on solution-focused therapy. British Journal of Social Work, 10: 1-9. 10 quasi-experimental studies, all in English: included on the basis of: statistics / design / follow-up / numbers. Only 2 follow-up studies. Moderate or high effect size in 4 studies. Are qualified workers better than students? (jcorcora@vcu.edu)

Gingerich WJ, Eisengart S (2000) Solution focused brief therapy: a review of the outcome research. Family Process, 39, 477-498. Fifteen outcome studies: 5 strong, 4 moderately strong, 6 weak.
(Updated version: www.gingerich.net). (wjg4@po.cwru.edu)

PUBLISHED FOLLOW-UP STUDIES (54):

** Randomised controlled study * Comparison study

Beyebach M, Rodriguez Sanchez M S, Arribas de Miguel J, Herrero de Vega M, Hernandez C, Rodriguez Morejon, A (2000) Outcome of solution-focused therapy at a university family therapy center. Journal of Systemic Therapies, 19: 116-128. 83 cases; telephone follow-up, most 1 yr +. 82% satisfied; better outcome for 'individual' problems than for 'relational'; more dropout for trainees; avg 4.7 sess. (mark.beyebach@upsa.es)

Brown EA, Dillenburger K (2004) (2004) An evaluation of the effectiveness of intervention in families with children with behavioural problems within the context of a Sure Start programme. Child Care in Practice, 10: 63-67. 12 children; Parent Management Training and sft; detailed measures; one mon follow-up. 5 improved; 5 borderline change; 2 (1 fostered) improved untreated.

Burr W (1993) Evaluation der Anwendung losungsorientierter Kurztherapie in einer kinder- und jugendpsychiartischen Praxis (Evaluation of the use of brief therapy in a practice for children and adolescents). Familiendynamik, 18: 11-21. (German: abstract in English). 55 cases; follow-up avg 9 mon. 34 replies - 26 (77%) improved. Avg 4 sess; new problems reported in 4 with improvement and 4 without. (wburr@t-online.de)

*Chung SA, Yang S (2004) The effects of solution-focused group counseling program for the families with schizophrenic patients. Taehan Kanho Hakhoe Chi (Journal of the Korean Academy of Nursing), 34:1155-63. (Korean; abstract in English.) 48 schizophrenic patients and 56 families; 24 patients and 28 families each in experimental and control gps. 8 group sess for experimental; significant reduction in family burden and expressed emotion vs controls.

**Cockburn JT, Thomas FN, Cockburn OJ (1997) Solution-focused therapy and psychosocial adjustment to orthopedic rehabilitation in a work hardening program. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 7: 97-106. 25 experimental: 6 sft sess vs 23 controls: standard rehabilitation. 68% experimental at work within 7 days at 60-day follow-up vs 4% controls. (f.thomas@tcu.edu)

Conoley CW, Graham JM, Neu T, Craig MC, O'Pry A, Cardin SA, Brossart DF, Parker RI (2003) Solution-focused family therapy with three aggressive and oppositional-acting children: an N=1 empirical study. Family Process, 42: 361-374. Manual and objective measures; avg 4.6 sess; 3 mon follow-up. 3/3 satisfied with result. (collie-conoley@tamu.edu)

*Corcoran JA (2006) A comparison group study of solution-focused therapy versus "treatment-as-usual" for behavior problems in children. Journal of Social Service Research, 33: 69-81. 239 children; 83 sft vs 156 'treatment as usual'. Better treatment engagement with sft but no outcome differences. (jcorcora@vcu.edu)

Cruz J, Littrell JM (1998) Brief counseling with Hispanic American college students. Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development, 26: 227-238. 16 students; 2 sess; follow-up 2 wk. 62.5% improved.

Darmody M, Adams B (2003): Outcome research on solution-focused brief therapy. Journal of Primary Care Mental Health, 7: 70-75. Goals, Coping Resources Inventory (CRI), client and therapist perception of session content. 20 cases; 3 mon follow-up. Overall change not significant; intrapersonal problems did better; clients saw conversation about past as more important than did therapists. (Melissa@brieftherapy.ie)

DeJong P, Hopwood LE Outcome research on treatment conducted at the Brief Family Therapy Center 1992-1993. In Miller SD, Hubble MA, Duncan BL (eds) (1996) Handbook of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy. Jossey-Bass: San Francisco (p272-298). 275 cases: age 50%<19, 93%<45; avg 2.9 sess; follow-up avg 8 mon; 141 contacted. 45% goal achieved, 32% some progress. Equal outcomes by age, gender, race, economic status. (Immediate post therapy measure of change in scaling scores for 136 collected: 25% significant progress; 49% moderate progress; 26% no progress. Berg IK, DeJong P (1996) Solution-building Conversations: Co-Constructing a Sense of Competence with Clients. Families in Society, 77: 376-391) (djon@calvin.edu)

de Shazer S, Berg IK, Lipchik E, Nunnally E, Molnar A, Gingerich W, Weiner-Davis M (1986) Brief therapy: focused solution development. Family Process, 25: 207-222. Telephone follow-up of 25% of 1600 cases seen during a 5 year period; 72% improved; avg 6 sess. (Briefftc@aol.com)

de Shazer S (1985) Keys to Solutions in Brief Therapy. Norton: New York. (p147-157). 6 mon follow-up of 28 cases who had received formula first session task. 23 (82%) improved; 11 solved other problems. Avg 5 sess.

de Shazer S (1991) Putting Differences To Work. Norton: New York. (p161-162). 29 cases: 23 (80%) reported that they had either resolved their original difficulty, or made significant progress towards resolving it. At 18 mon success rate was 86%; 67% reported other improvements also. Avg 4.6 sess: 4 sess or more did better.

de Shazer, S, Isebaert L (2003) The Bruges Model: a solution-focused approach to problem drinking. Journal of Family Psychotherapy, 14: 43-52. 4 yr telephone follow-up of 131 alcoholics after inpatient episode: 118 contactable, 9 dead. 100 (84%) abstinent (60) or successfully controlled their drinking (40). 4 yr telephone follow-up of 72 alcoholics after outpatient treatment: 59 (82%) contacted: abstinent (36) or successfully controlled (23). Only relevant variable was therapy; social class was not a factor. (luc.isebaert@azbrugge.be).

*Eakes G, Walsh S, Markowski M, Cain H, Swanson M (1997) Family-centred brief solution-focused therapy with chronic schizophrenia: a pilot study. Journal of Family Therapy, 19: 145-158. Experimental and control groups: 5 clients and families each. Reflecting team also used. Experimental group: Family Environment Scale showed significant increase in expressiveness, active-recreational orientation and decrease in incongruence. Controls: moral-religious emphasis increased.

Franklin C, Biever JL, Moore KC, Clemons D, Scamardo, M (2001) The effectiveness of solution-focused therapy with children in a school setting. Research on Social Work Practice, 11: 411-434. 19 cases with learning problems: 7 investigated. 1 mon follow-up (objective measures); avg 7 sess. Some improvement in all; 6 of 7 better. (cfranklin@mail.utexas.edu)

*Franklin C, Corcoran J, Nowicki J, Streeter CL (1997) Using client self-anchored scales to measure outcomes in solution-focused therapy. Journal of Systemic Therapies, 16: 246-265. Pilot study (3 cases) of this measure as a test of outcome.

George E, Iveson, C, Ratner H (1990) Problem to Solution. Brief Therapy Press: London. 6 mon telephone follow-up: 41 (66%) of 62 traced were satisfied. (brief3@aol.com)

*Gostautas A, Cepukiene V, Pakrosnis R, Fleming JS (2005) The outcome of solution-focused brief therapy for adolescents in foster care and health institutions. Baltic Journal of Psychology, 6: 5-14. 81 exp (44 foster / 37 health care) / 52 comparison; test battery 1-4 wk after 2-5 sess (avg 3.42). Grouped data: significant difference all measures for exp group; therapists rated 82% much improved. Scaling in keeping with standard instruments. (c.viktorija@lycos.com)

Green LS, Oades LG, Grant AM (2006) Cognitive-behavioral, solution-focused life coaching: Enhancing goal striving, well-being, and hope. Journal of Positive Psychology, 1: 142-149. Self selected: 25 exp, 25 control; 16 hr training in self-coaching. 18 exp (no controls) follow-up at 30 wks: significant improvements in goal striving, wellbeing and hope. (suzygreen@optusnet.com.au)

Johnson LD, Shaha S (1996) Improving quality in psychotherapy. Psychotherapy, 33: 225-236. 38 cases, OQ-45 checklist (symptoms, relationships, social role). Improvement after avg. 4.77 sess. (ljohnson@INCONNECT.COM)

**Knekt, P, Lindfors O (2004) A randomized trial of the effect of four forms of psychotherapy on depressive and anxiety disorders: design, methods and results on the effectiveness of short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy and solution-focused therapy during a one-year follow-up. Studies in social security and health, no. 77. The Social Insurance Institution, Helsinki, Finland. Randomised comparison study; 93 sft / 98 short-term psychotherapy; problems >1 yr. Sft 43% (mood), 26% (anxiety) recovery at 7 mon maintained at 12 mon; short-term 43%, 35%; no significant difference between therapies but sft faster for depression; short-term better for 'personality disorder'. Avg sft 10 sess over 7.5 mon; short-term 15 sess over 5.7 mon. No figures for partial recovery; no apparent social class difference. (Unpublished: difference retained at 5 yrs; 1 sft rehospitalised vs 5 from short-term + 6 from long-term psychotherapy.) Psychoanalysis comparison data not yet published. (www.kela.fi/research)

*LaFountain RM, Garner NE (1996) Solution-focused counselling groups: the results are in. Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 21: 128-143. Experimental 27 sft counsellors, 176 students; control 30 non-sft counsellors, 135 students. Experimental students better on 3 of 8 measures including 81% goal achievement (controls no report). Less exhaustion and depersonalisation in sft counsellers at 1 yr.

*Lambert MJ, Okiishi JC, Finch AE, Johnson LD (1998) Outcome assessment: From conceptualization to implementation. Professional Psychology: Research & Practice, 29: 63-70. 22 cases from Johnson & Shaha (1996) compared with 45 at university public mental health center. Both methods achieved 46% recovered by objective criteria (OQ-45) ('Improved' cases not reported); sft by 3rd sess, center by 26th.

Lee MY (1997) A study of solution-focused brief family therapy: outcomes and issues. American Journal of Family Therapy, 25: 3-17. 59 children; various problems; 6 mon telephone follow-up, independent raters. 64.9% improved (goal achieved 54.4%; part goal 10.5%) avg 5.5 sess. (lee.355@osu.edu)

Lee MY, Greene GJ, Uken A, Sebold J, Rheinsheld J (1997) Solution-focused brief group treatment: a viable modality for domestic violence offenders? Journal of Collaborative Therapies, IV: 10-17. Sciotto study: 117 clients, 1993-1997; standard 6 sess completed by 88. 7% (6) reoffend by 1997. Plumas study: 1994-1996: 34 clients; avg 7 sess; 3% (1) reoffend by 1997. (pcmhs@psln.com) (uken@jps.net)

Lee MY, Greene GJ, Mentzer RA, Pinnell S, Niles D (2001) Solution-focused brief therapy and the treatment of depression: a pilot study. Journal of Brief Therapy, 1: 33-49. 10 clients, all had 6 sess. 9 improved on all measures at 6 mon.

Lee MY, Sebold J, Uken A (2003) Solution-focused treatment of domestic violence offenders. Oxford: New York. 90 treated (77 male); few dropouts for 8-session programme. 48 (+22 partners) traced at 6 mon. Self-esteem and solution finding better; 16.7% cumulative recidivism over 6 yrs. Childhood abuse predicts recidivism.

Lee MY, Sebold J, Uken A (2007) Roles of self determined goals in predicting recidivism in domestic violence offenders. Research on Social Work Practice, 17:30-41. 1996-2004: 127 seen, 88 traced (70 male); completion (7 of 8 sess) 92.8%. 10.3% recidivism. Agreed goals and specific goals predict more confidence and less recidivism. Brain injury predicts recidivism; child abuse not found to predict.

Li S, Armstrong Ms, Chaim G, Kelly C, Shenfeld J (2007) Group and Individual Couple Treatment for Substance Abuse Clients: A Pilot Study. American Journal of Family Therapy, 35:221-233. 27 couples: 20 complete: multiple couples group 13/15; individual couples group 7/12; no significant differences between group results. 80% (43) traced at 6 mon: 46% (20) 'a great deal better'; 49% (21) 'helped somewhat'. (selina.li@camh.net)

**Lindforss L, Magnusson D (1997) Solution-focused therapy in prison. Contemporary Family Therapy, 19: 89-104. Randomised: 30 experimental and 29 controls; 16 mon follow-up. 18 (60%) reoffend in exp., 25 (86%) in control; more drug offences and more total offences in controls. Pilot study 14/21 (66%) exp. and 19/21(90%) controls reoffended at 20 mon. Avg 5 sess; 2.7 million Swedish crowns saved by reduced reoffending. (lindforss@chello.se; dan.magnusson@brottsforebygganderadet.se)

*Littrell JM, Malia JA, Vanderwood M (1995) Single-session brief counseling in a high school. Journal of Counseling and Development, 73: 451-458. 61 students; 19 problem focus and task, 20 problem focus only, 22 solution focus and task. 69% better at 6 wk follow-up in all groups but shorter sessions in sft. (jlittrel@iastate.edu)

Lundblad A-M, Hansson K (2006) Couples therapy; effectiveness of treatment and long-term follow-up. Journal of Family Therapy, 28: 136-152. Integrative therapy: mixture of five models in each case; at least 20% sft. 131/158 couples (82.9%) 2 yr follow-up: improved marital satisfaction, family climate, sense of coherence; reduced symptoms and reduction in expressed emotions. (ami.lundblad@bigfoot.com)

Macdonald AJ (1994) Brief therapy in adult psychiatry. Journal of Family Therapy, 16: 415-426. 41 cases; 1 yr follow-up. 29 (70%) improved - longstanding problems did less well. Equal outcome for all social classes; avg 3.7 sess. (macdonald@solutionsdoc.co.uk)

Macdonald AJ (1997) Brief therapy in adult psychiatry: further outcomes. Journal of Family Therapy, 19: 213-222. 36 cases; 1 yr follow-up. 23 (64%) improved; other problems solved in 10 with good outcome and 2 in the other group. Longstanding problems did less well; equal outcome for all social classes; avg 3.3 sess.

Macdonald AJ (2005) Brief therapy in adult psychiatry: results from 15 years of practice. Journal of Family Therapy, 27: 65-75. Further 41 cases reported; 1 yr follow-up. 31 (76%) improved; avg 5.02 sess; 20% single sess. Combined total 118; 83 (70%) improved; avg 4.03 sess; 25% single sess. Fewer new problems in good outcome group. Longstanding problems predict less improvement; equal outcome for all social classes.

Milner J, Jessop D (2003) Domestic violence: narrative and solutions. Probation Journal, 50: 127-141. 23 referrals; 20 cases (3 female) completed; individual or family work; 18 month follow-up. 19 (95%) not reoffend. Avg 5 sess. (judith.milner@TISCALI.CO.UK)

*Mintoft B, Bellringer ME, Orme C (2005) Improved client outcome services project: an intervention with clients of problem gambling treatment. ECOMMUNITY: International journal of mental health and addiction, 3: 30-40. 23 unimproved clients compared with 62 who refused further treatment and with national statistics. First session motivational interviewing and CBT, then up to 16 wks sft and self-completion booklet about goals and exceptions. 11 completed programme; improvement on all measures; numbers too small for statistics. No data on number of sessions or partial completers. (br.mintoft@auckland.ac.nz)

Morrison JA, Olivos K, Dominguez G, Gomez D, Lena D (1993) The application of family systems approaches to school behaviour problems on a school-level discipline board: an outcome study. Elementary School Guidance & Counselling, 27: 258-272. 30 with school problems (6 special education); 1-7 sess. 23 improved but 7 relapsed.

Newsome WS (2005) The Impact of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy with At-Risk Junior High School Students. Children & Schools, 87: 83-91. 26 preteens; improved social skills after minimum 5 of 8 group sess at 6 wk follow-up. Classroom behaviour and homework completion had also improved. (snewsome@uic.edu)

**Nystuen P, Hagen KB (2006) Solution-focused intervention for sick-listed employees with psychological problems or muscle skeletal pain: a randomised controlled trial. BMC Public Health, 6: 69-77. Long-term sickness: randomised: 53 exp / 50 controls; 8 sess; 1 yr follow-up. No significant difference in return to work; mental health scores significantly improved. Authors question sample size and chosen measures. (pal@psykologbistand.no; kare.hagen@diakonsyk.no)

Perez Grande MD (1991) Evaluacion de resultados en terapia sistemica breve (Outcome research in brief systemic therapy). Cuadernos de Terapia Familiar, 18: 93-110. 97 cases, 25% children; avg 5 sess. 71% better at end. 6-35 (avg 19) mon telephone follow-up: 81 traced. 13% relapse; 38% other problems better. More dropout if longstanding problem.

*Perkins R (2006) The effectiveness of one session of therapy using a single-session therapy approach for children and adolescents with mental health problems. Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice (Leicester), 79: 215-227. 78 exp single sess / 88 no treatment; follow-up 4 wks. Severity improved 74.3% vs 42.5%; frequency improved 71.45 vs 48.3%. (ruthp@iimetro.com.au)

*Rhee WK, Merbaum M, Strube MJ (2005) Efficacy of brief telephone psychotherapy with callers to a suicide hotline. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, 35:317-328. 55 callers completed study: sft 16, common factors therapy 17, wait list 24. Significant improvement on 10/14 measures for treated groups; no between-group differences. (mmerbaum@wustl.edu)

*Rothwell N (2005) How brief is solution focussed brief therapy? A comparative study. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, 12:402-405. Pseudo-randomization: 41 sft/119 CBT. Sft avg 2 sess, CBT avg 5 sess. No outcome difference on GAF. (Neil.rothwell@fvpc.scot.nhs.uk)

Shennan G (2003) The early response project: a voluntary sector contribution to CAMHS. Child And Adolescent Mental Health In Primary Care, 1: 46-50. Telephone follow-up at 6-9 mon: 40 of 72 parents contacted. 62.5% improved; 75% report improved coping ability; avg 2.7 sess. (guyshennan@ntlworld.com)

*Springer DW, Lynch C, Rubin A (2000) Effects of a solution-focused mutual aid group for Hispanic children of incarcerated parents. Child and Adolescent Social Work, 17: 431-442. 5 schoolchildren offered 6 session group using sft / interactional / mutual aid approaches vs 5 waiting list controls. Possibly significant increase in self-esteem in experimental group.

*Stith SM, Rosen KH, McCollum EE, Thomsen CJ (2004) Treating intimate partner violence within intact couple relationships: outcomes of multi-couple versus individual couple therapy. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 30: 305-318. 14/20 individual couples, 16/22 multi-group couples completed program, 9 couples comparison group; all mild-to-moderate violence. Follow-up (females contacted): 6 mon recidivism 43% individual, 25% multi-group, 67% comparison; 2 yr: 0%, 13% (one client), 50%. (sstith@vt.edu)

*Stoddart KP, McDonnell J, Temple V. Mustate A (2001) Is brief better? A modified brief solution-focused therapy approach for adults with a developmental delay. Journal of Systemic Therapies, 20: 24-41. 16/19 clients complete 8 sess; 6 mon follow-up. Better outcome if fewer problems, less developmental delay, real-life goals, self-referred. Therapy 118 days vs 372 days for long-term comparison group; client satisfaction similar. Clients often requested more sessions. (stoddart@aspergers.net)

*Sundmann, P (1997) Solution-focused ideas in social work. Journal of Family Therapy, 19: 159-172. 9 social workers in the experimental group received basic training in solution-focused ideas while 11 controls worked as usual. Session tapes and questionnaires were analysed at 6 mon: 382 clients; 199 (52%) replied. More positive statements, more goal focus and more shared views were found in the experimental group. (peter.sundman@taitoba.fi)

Thompson R, Littrell JM (2000) Brief counseling for students with learning disabilities. The School Counselor, 2:60-7. 12 students; 2 sess; follow-up 2 wk. 10 achieved 100% of goal.

*Triantafillou N (1997) A solution-focused approach to mental health supervision. Journal of Systemic Therapies, 16: 305-328. Supervision of residential staff. 5 adolescent clients: 66% less incidents, less medication use vs 7 controls: 10% less incidents, medication increased at 16 wks. (nickt@interlynx.net)

Vaughn K, Young BC, Webster DC, Thomas MR A continuum-of-care model for inpatient psychiatric treatment. In Miller SD, Hubble MA, Duncan BL (eds) (1996) Handbook of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy. Jossey-Bass: San Francisco (p 99-127). 688 cases before sft model: avg stay 20.2 days; 675 cases after: avg stay 6.6 days.

*Viner RM, Christie D, Taylor V, Hey S (2003) Motivational/solution-focused intervention improves HbA1c in adolescents with Type 1 diabetes: a pilot study. Diabetic Medicine, 20(9):739-42. 77 approached: 21 exp, 20 controls; 2 group sess. Improvement in glycaemic index and Self-efficacy in Diabetes measures at 6 mon.; not sustained at 12 mon. (r.viner@ich.ucl.ac.uk)

*Wheeler J (1995) Believing in miracles: the implications and possibilities of using solution-focused therapy in a child mental health setting. ACPP Reviews & Newsletter, 17: 255-261. 3 mon follow-up of 34 (traced) sft referrals and 39 (traced) routine referrals: 23 (68%) vs 17 (44%) satisfied; other clinic resources used by 4 (12%) vs 12 (31%). (John@jwheeler.freeserve.co.uk)

**Wilmshurst LA (2002) Treatment programs for youth with emotional and behavioural disorders: an outcome study of two alternate approaches. Mental Health Services Research, 4: 85-96. Randomised controlled study: 12 wk; 27 clients 5 day/wk residential, sft, family contact 26 hr; 38 non-resident programme, CBT, family contact 48 hr. I yr follow-up: Behaviour improved in both groups; ADHD behaviours better in 63% of CBT, 22% of sft; group scores better for anxiety, depression with CBT. Author suggests residential care is detrimental.

Wiseman S (2003) Brief intervention: reducing the repetition of deliberate self-harm. Nursing Times, 99: 34-36. First self-harm 40 clients; 1 sess. Up to 6 mon follow-up: 39 no repeat; 78% improved on self-scaling.

Ziffer JM, Crawford E, Penney-Wietor J (2007) The Boomerang Bunch: A School-Based Multifamily Group Approach for Students and Their Families Recovering from Parental Separation and Divorce. The Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 32: 154 - 164. School counsellors: 5 parents; 8 sess. Groups for parents, older + younger children. All improved at 6 mon follow-up interview. (StrongToGoOn@aol.com)

*Zimmerman TS, Jacobsen RB, MacIntyre M, Watson C (1996) Solution-focused parenting groups: an empirical study. Journal of Systemic Therapies, 15: 12-25. 30 clients, 6 sess; 12 controls no treatment. Significant improvement on Parenting Skills Inventory; no change on Family Strengths Assessment. (lindsay@picasso.colostate.edu)

*Zimmerman TS, Prest LA, Wetzel BE (1997) Solution-focused couples therapy groups: an empirical study. Journal of Family Therapy, 19: 125-144. Six weekly groups; 23 experimental and 13 no-treatment controls. Several relationship measures improved in the experimental group.

TRAINING STUDIES

Bowles, N, Mackintosh, C, Torn, A (2001) Nurses' communication skills: an evaluation of the impact of solution-focused communication training. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 36: 347-354. 16 nurse students trained; 10 followed up at six mon on six items: all shifted in desired direction; not statistical significance. Qualitative data reported also. (n.b.bowles@bradford.ac.uk)

McGilton K, Irwin-Robertson H, Boscart V, Spanjevic L (2006) Communication enhancement: nurse and patient satisfaction outcomes in a complex nursing continuing care facility. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 54: 35-44. 21 nurses, 16 patients; sft communication enhancement training; 10 wk follow-up. Nurses felt closer to patients and had higher job satisfaction (statistically significant). (mcgilton.kathy@torontorehab.on.ca)

FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS

Wolfgang Eberling, Bremen (NIK-Bremen@nik.de): outcome research in problem drinking; monitoring of events within therapy sessions.

Dr Luc Isebaert, Bruges (luc.isebaert@azbrugge.be): four-year follow-up of alcoholics; measures of personality, diagnosis, relationship state and alcohol use. RCT sft vs mindfulness therapy.

Caroline Klingenstierna, Stockholm (utbildning@cosolvia.se): randomised controlled study of sft groups for returning unemployed to work. Faster return to active list and less distress symptoms for persons (n=15+15) with more than 6 months of sick leave than control group. No significant differences between groups after 5 months follow-up. Unpublished: available in Swedish at www.solutionwork.com/arkiv/Uppsatsstudie1.pdf

Karin Wallgren, Sweden (karin.wallgren@losningsfokus.se): randomised controlled study of sft groups for returning unemployed to work. Persons (n=15+15) with less than 3 months of sick leave returned to work more often and were in better psychological condition than control group after 3 months of follow-up. Unpublished: available in Swedish at www.solutionwork.com/arkiv/Uppsats2.pdf

European Brief Therapy Association (EBTA) research group: sft in research publications must include: goals; exceptions; pre-session changes; clients' resources; miracle question; scaling; compliments; tasks. Return visits must begin with 'What is better?' or similar.

EBTA multi-national research project: compares client scaling with objective measures. Participating: UK (2); Bulgaria; Spain.

Multi-author international handbook of sft research in preparation: Lead editors Cynthia Franklin and Terry Trepper. (CFranklin@mail.utexas.edu; trepper@calumet.purdue.edu)

Dr Alasdair Macdonald, UK, Research Coordinator EBTA (www.solutionsdoc.co.uk)